Conrad Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Conrad Schmidt is a social activist, filmmaker and writer living in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
who is best known for his role in founding the Work Less Party of British Columbia
and for creating the internationally known World Naked Bike Ride
protest.
and moved to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, in 1998 where he presently resides.
in 2004.
In 2003 Schmidt was a coordinator for the Work Less Party of British Columbia
, a political party
which advocates a 32-hour work week and reduced consumerism
.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who is best known for his role in founding the Work Less Party of British Columbia
Work Less Party of British Columbia
The Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt. It has a federal wing and also participates in municipal politics...
and for creating the internationally known World Naked Bike Ride
World Naked Bike Ride
World Naked Bike Ride is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport , to "deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world."The dress code motto is "Bare as you dare"...
protest.
Biography
Schmidt was born and raised in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, in 1998 where he presently resides.
Community involvement
In 2003, Schmidt organised a protest in which 50 demonstrators from Artists Against War formed a peace sign with their naked bodies to protest against possible US action in Iraq. Schmidt created the international clothing-optional World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)World Naked Bike Ride
World Naked Bike Ride is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport , to "deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world."The dress code motto is "Bare as you dare"...
in 2004.
In 2003 Schmidt was a coordinator for the Work Less Party of British Columbia
Work Less Party of British Columbia
The Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt. It has a federal wing and also participates in municipal politics...
, a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which advocates a 32-hour work week and reduced consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
.
Media activities
Schmidt is the author of Workers of the World Relax: The Simple Economics of Less Industrial Work. and Efficiency Shifting, as well as the director of the documentary, Five Ring Circus.See also
- AffluenzaAffluenzaAffluenza, from affluence and influenza, is a term used by critics of capitalism and consumerism. Sources define it as follows:Proponents of the term consider that the prizing of endless increases in material wealth may lead to feelings of worthlessness and dissatisfaction rather than experiences...
- Anti-consumerismAnti-consumerismAnti-consumerism refers to the socio-political movement against the equating of personal happiness with consumption and the purchase of material possessions...
- Canadian federal election, 2008Canadian federal election, 2008The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
- Work Less PartyWork Less PartyThe Work Less Party was a Canadian federal political party that became eligible for registration with Elections Canada on October 1, 2007....
- Work Less Party of British ColumbiaWork Less Party of British ColumbiaThe Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt. It has a federal wing and also participates in municipal politics...
- World Naked Bike RideWorld Naked Bike RideWorld Naked Bike Ride is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport , to "deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world."The dress code motto is "Bare as you dare"...
External links
- ConradSchmidt.org
- Work Less Party Web site Web site includes films and clips, some including Schmidt.
- World Naked Bike Ride Web site & Wiki site
- Artists For Peace and Artists Against War activism Web site This is an archive of the old site, which is presently hosted on the Work Less Party Web site.
- Work Less Party of Victoria
- You Never Bike Alone Documentary includes interview and footage from first WNBR.